Cleaner

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a cleaner, which has an improved channel conversion structure. The cleaner includes a first suction channel and a second suction channel, which are selectively opened and closed, and suck external foreign substances, and a first valve and a second valve, which are respectively rotated from the upstream portion of a flow to the downstream portion of the flow and thus close the first channel and the second channel.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 2008-0067155, filed on Jul. 10, 2008, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a cleaner, and more particularly to a cleaner having a channel conversion device.

2. Description of the Related Art

Cleaners are apparatuses, which remove foreign substances, such as dust, and vacuum cleaners are mainly used at home. Vacuum cleaners suck dust using suction force generated by a blowing device and then filter out the dust through a filter, and are roughly divided into a canister type cleaner and an upright type cleaner.

A conventional upright type cleaner includes a brush assembly, a main body rotatably connected to the brush assembly, a duct member installed in the main body and provided with a first channel connected to the brush assembly, a second channel connected to a subsidiary suction device, a third channel connected to a suction source, and a crossing channel, in which the first, second, and third channels join together, and a valve member installed in the crossing channel to selectively communicate the first channel or the second channel with the third channel. Here, the valve member is rotated to close an inlet of any one of the first channel and the second channel, and the other one of the first channel and the second channel, which is not closed, is communicated with the third channel. Thus, the valve member of the conventional upright type cleaner is rotated from the downstream portion of the first or second channel to the upstream portion of the first or second channel, and thus closes the first or second channel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, one aspect of the present invention is to provide a cleaner, which has an improved channel conversion performance.

In accordance with one aspect, the present invention provides a cleaner comprising a base and a subsidiary suction device respectively provided with suction ports to suck external foreign substances; a suction fan generating suction force to suck the external foreign substances; a first channel connected to the base to transmit the suction force to the base; a second channel connected to the subsidiary suction device to transmit the suction force to the subsidiary suction device; and a channel conversion device including a first valve and a second valve rotated to respectively open and close the first channel and the second channel, wherein the first valve and the second valve are respectively rotated from the upstream portion of a flow to the downstream portion of the flow, and thus close the first channel and the second channel.

The cleaner may further comprise a rotary shaft provided with one side connected to the first valve and the other side connected to the second valve.

The rotary shaft may be disposed at the intersection of the first channel and the second channel.

The cleaner may further comprise a first flange part and a second flange part respectively provided on the first channel and the second channel to be closely adhered to the edge of the first valve and the edge of the second valve when the channels are closed by the first valve and the second valve.

The cleaner may further comprise a sealing member to airtightly close the first channel or the second channel by the first valve or the second valve.

The sealing member may be provided on the first valve or the second valve, and include a convex part.

The cleaner may further comprise a main body rotatably connected to the base, and the first channel may be opened and the second channel may be closed when the main body is located within a first rotating range, and the first channel may be closed and the second channel may be opened when the main body is located within a second rotating range.

The channel conversion device may further include an actuator moving rectilinearly through the rotation of the main body, and a rotary shaft connected to the first valve and the second valve, and the rotary shaft may be rotated in linkage with the actuator.

The actuator may be elastically supported by the main body, and be pressed by the base according to the rotating angle of the main body.

In accordance with a further aspect, the present invention provides a cleaner, which has a brush assembly and a subsidiary suction device, comprising a first channel connected to the brush assembly; a second channel connected to the subsidiary suction device; and a channel conversion device including a first valve to open and close the first channel and a second valve to open and close the second channel, wherein the first valve or the second valve moves in the flowing direction of sucked air, and thus closes the first channel or the second channel.

The first valve and the second valve may be provided with a single rotary shaft, and the rotary shaft may be rotated in linkage with the rotation of the main body.

The cleaner may further comprise an actuator provided on the main body, and pressed by the base and moving rectilinearly when the main body is rotated at a designated angle, and the rotating shaft may be rotated by the rectilinear movement of the actuator.

In accordance with another aspect, the present invention provides a cleaner having a first suction channel and a second suction channel, which are selectively opened and closed, and suck external foreign substances, comprising a first valve and a second valve respectively rotated from the upstream portion of a flow to the downstream portion of the flow to close the first channel and the second channel.

The first valve and the second valve may be formed integrally.

The second channel may be closed by the second valve when the first channel is opened by the first valve, and the second channel may be opened by the second valve when the first channel is closed by the first valve.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the external appearance of an upright type cleaner in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are respectively exploded perspective and longitudinal-sectional views illustrating a fixing part of a subsidiary suction device in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a channel conversion device in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 5A and 5B are views illustrating a channel conversion structure around a valve assembly in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention; and

FIGS. 6A and 6B are perspective views illustrating the operation of the channel conversion device in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiment of the present invention, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. The embodiment is described below to explain the present invention by referring to the annexed drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the external appearance of an upright type cleaner in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

The cleaner in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention includes a brush assembly 10, a main body 20 rotatably connected to the brush assembly 10, and a subsidiary suction device 30 detachably attached to the main body 20.

The brush assembly 10 includes a base 11 provided with a suction port 12, a rotary brush 13 accommodated in the base 11 and rotated to brush away dust from a surface to be cleaned and induce the dust to the inside of the base 11, a driving motor 14 to drive the rotary brush 13, and a plurality of wheels 15 provided at the lower portion of the base 11.

The main body 20 includes a main body casing 21 connected to the base 11 of the brush assembly 10 such that the main body 20 can be rotated, a suction fan (not shown) accommodated in the main body casing 21 to generate suction force of sucking external foreign substances, and a dust collector 22 to collect the filtered-out foreign substances. Non-described reference numeral 25 represents an exhaust port, through which air filtered by the dust collector 22 is exhausted from the main body 20 to the outside.

The dust collector 22 includes a filter 23 located at the inlet side of the suction fan to filter out foreign substances, and a collection tank 24 provided around the filter 23 to collect the filtered-out foreign substances.

The subsidiary suction device 30 includes a wand assembly 31, and a flexible hose 35 connected to the wand assembly 31 to transmit the suction force generated from the suction fan to the wand assembly 31.

The wand assembly 31 includes a handle 32 easily gripped by a user, and a pipe 33 provided at one side of the handle 32 and connected to the flexible hose 35. The handle 32 in this embodiment may serve as a handle of the main body 20 under the condition that the wand assembly 31 is mounted on the main body 20. The wand assembly 31 may further include a tool 34 detachably connected to the front end of the pipe 33.

The subsidiary suction device 30 in this embodiment is an exemplary device, which supplements the function of the brush assembly 10 and thus sucks foreign substances, and the structure and configuration of the subsidiary suction device 30 is not limited. For example, the subsidiary suction device may include only a flexible hose.

The cleaner in accordance with this embodiment further includes a first channel 41 connected to the base 11 to transmit the suction force generated from the suction fan to the brush assembly 10, a second channel 42 connected to the subsidiary suction device 30 to transmit the suction force generated from the suction fan to the subsidiary suction device 30, a third channel 43 connected to the dust collector 22, and a channel conversion device 100 provided around the intersection of the first, second, and third channels 41,42, and 43 to selectively communicate the first channel 41 or the second channel 42 with the third channel 43.

FIGS. 2 and 3 are respectively exploded perspective and longitudinal-sectional views illustrating a fixing part of the subsidiary suction device in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. With reference to the FIGS. 2 and 3, the fixing structure of the subsidiary suction device in accordance with this embodiment will be described.

The cleaner in this embodiment includes a rotating unit 50 provided on the wand assembly 31 and the main body 20 such that the wand assembly 31 is supported by the main body 20 and is rotated, a locking unit 60 provided on the wand assembly 31 and the main body 20 such that the wand assembly 31 rotated in one direction is locked with the main body 20, and an elastic support unit 70 elastically supporting the wand assembly 31 in the opposite direction to the locking direction.

The rotating unit 50 includes a rotary shaft 51 provided on the wand assembly 31, and a rotary groove 52, into which the rotary shaft 51 is inserted, provided on the main body 20. Preferably, the rotary groove 52 of the main body 20 is provided at the upper portion of the main body 20 such that a user can easily observe the position of the rotary groove 52. Further, preferably, the handle side of the wand assembly 31, i.e., a portion of the handle 32 or a portion of the pipe 33 being adjacent to the handle 32, is rotatably supported by the main body 20.

The locking unit 60 includes a locking hook 61 provided on the main body 20, an elastic body 62 elastically supporting the locking hook 61 in one direction, a release button 63 formed integrally with the locking hook 61 to allow a user to press the locking hook 61 in the opposite direction to the elastically supporting direction of the locking hook 61, and a fastening part 64, to which the locking hook 61 is fastened, provided on the wand assembly 31. Reference numeral 65 represents a cover to cover the front surface of the main body 20.

The elastically supporting unit 70 includes a support body 71 contacting the wand assembly 31, and an elastic body 72 elastically supporting the support body 71.

Through the above structure, when the rotary shaft 51 of the wand assembly 31 is inserted into the rotary groove 52 of the main body 20 and then the wand assembly 31 is rotated in a direction of causing the lower end of the wand assembly 31 to come close to the main body 20, as shown in FIG. 3, the locking hook 61 moves in the opposite direction to the elastically supporting direction and then is returned to its original position. During this process, the fastening part 64 provided on the wand assembly 31 is fastened to the locking hook 61, and thus the wand assembly 31 is supported by the elastically supporting unit 70 and is fixed to the main body 20.

On the other hand, when the release button 63 formed integrally with the locking hook 61 is pressed, the wand assembly 31 is released from the main body 20. The fastening between the locking hook 61 of the main body 20 and the fastening part 64 of the wand assembly 31 is released, and the wand assembly 31 is rotated in the opposite direction to the locking direction by the elastic force of the elastically supporting unit 70 and is released from the main body 20. Here, the release button 63 is preferably located at the upper portion of the main body 20 such that a user of the subsidiary suction device 30 can conveniently press the release button 63.

The above mounting structure of the wand assembly 30 is exemplary, and the wand assembly 30 may be fixed to the main body 20 by other various methods.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the channel conversion device in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, FIGS. 5A and 5B are views illustrating a channel conversion structure around a valve assembly in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, and FIGS. 6A and 6B are perspective views illustrating the operation of the channel conversion device in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. With reference to FIGS. 4 to 6B, the channel conversion device in this embodiment will be described.

The channel conversion device 100 in this embodiment includes a valve assembly 110, and a driving unit 120 to drive the valve assembly 110.

The valve assembly 110 includes a first valve 111 to open and close the first channel 41, a second valve 112 to open and close the second channel 42, and a rotary shaft 113 provided with one side connected to the first valve 111 and the other side connected to the second valve 112 and disposed at the intersection of the first channel 41 and the second channel 42.

As shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the first valve 111 and the second valve 112 in this embodiment forms a V shape and are connected to the rotary shaft 113. The front end of the first valve 111 and the front end of the second valve 112 are respectively extended to the downstream portion of the first channel 41 and the downstream portion of the second channel 42.

Thereby, the first channel 41 is opened by the first valve 111 and the second channel 42 is closed by the second valve 112 simultaneously, as shown in FIG. 5A, and the first channel 41 is closed by the first valve 111 and the second channel 42 is opened by the second valve 112 simultaneously, as shown in FIG. 5B.

Further, the first valve 111 and the second valve 112 in this embodiment are rotated in the same direction as the flowing direction of sucked air to respectively close the first channel 41 and the second channel 42, thus reducing the leakage of suction force through the closed channels 41 and 42.

For example, in case that the first channel 41 is opened and the second channel 42 is closed, as shown in FIG. 5A, the second valve 112 is rotated from the upstream portion of the flow to the downstream portion of the flow (i.e., in the A direction) and closes the second channel 42, and thus more strongly closes the second channel 42 due to the suction force transmitted from the suction fan.

On the other hand, in case that the first channel 41 is closed and the second channel 42 is opened, as shown in FIG. 5B, the first valve 111 is rotated from the upstream portion of the flow to the downstream portion of the flow (i.e., in the B direction) and closes the first channel 41. Reference mark g represents the flowing direction of the sucked air.

The cleaner of this embodiment further includes flange parts 114 and 115 respectively provided on the first channel 41 and the second channel 42 to more firmly close the channels 41 and 42 through the valves 111 and 112. Specifically, when the first channel 41 is closed, the first flange part 114 of the first channel 41 contacts the edge of the first valve 111, and when the second channel 42 is closed, the second flange part 115 of the second channel 42 contacts the edge of the second valve 112.

The cleaner further includes sealing members 116 respectively provided on the flange parts 114 and 115 or the valves 111 and 112 contacting the flange parts 114 and 115. In this embodiment, the sealing members 116 are provided on the first valve 111 and the second valve 112, and a convex part 117 combined with the cross-section of each of the channels 41 and 42 is provided on the center of each of the sealing members 116 to further improve airtight force.

The driving unit 120 includes an actuator 121 elastically supported by the main body 20 and moving rectilinearly through the rotation of the main body 20, and a link 122 provided with one end rotatably connected to the actuator 121 and the other end fixedly connected to the rotary shaft 113 such that the rotary shaft 113 of the valve assembly 110 can be rotated by the rectilinear movement of the actuator 121. Reference numeral 123 represents an elastic body elastically supporting the actuator 121 against the brush assembly 10.

Therefore, the main body 20, the actuator 121, and the rotary shaft 113 are linked with each other, and thus the rotary shaft 113 of the valve assembly 110 is rotated by the rotation of the main body 20 and the first channel 41 or the second channel 42 is selectively opened and closed thereby.

Specifically, in case that the main body 20 is tilted against the brush assembly 10 at a designated angle, as shown in FIG. 6A, since a lower end 124 of the actuator 121 is separated from the brush assembly 10, the actuator 121 maintains an elastically supported state at the lower part thereof, the valve assembly 110 linked with the actuator 121 maintains a rotated state in the A direction, and thus the first channel 41 is opened and the second channel 42 is closed. Here, since the main body 20 is rotated within the range of a designated angle and the brush assembly 10 is used in general, the actuator 121 is preferably designed such that the lower end 124 of the actuator 121 does not contact the brush assembly 10 although the main body 20 in the tilted state is rotated within a designated range. In this embodiment, the designated range is a first rotating range (α).

Further, in case that the main body 20 is erected against the brush assembly 10, as shown in FIG. 6B, the actuator 121 is pressed by the brush assembly 10 and moves upward, the valve assembly 110 linked with the actuator 121 is rotated in the B direction, and thus the first channel 41 is closed and the second channel 42 is opened.

Hereinafter, a cleaning operation using the cleaner of this embodiment will be described in brief.

When the bottom, such as a carpet or a floor, is cleaned, a user pushes and pulls the handle 32 forward and backward under the condition that the main body 20 is tilted to effectively suck foreign substances through the brush assembly 10. Here, although the main body 20 is rotated forward and backward within the first rotating range (α), the lower end 124 of the actuator 121 does not contact the brush assembly 10, the opening state of the first channel 41 and the closing state of the second channel 42 are maintained, and thus the suction force of the suction fan is concentrated upon the first channel 41.

In case that a gap, a curtain, or a ceiling is cleaned using the subsidiary suction device 30, the user separates the wand assembly 31 from the main body 20 under the condition that the main body 20 is erected against the brush assembly 10. Here, as the main body 20 is rotated, the actuator 121 is pressed by the brush assembly 10, the valve assembly 110 linked with the actuator 12 is rotated to close the first channel 41 and open the second channel 42, and thus the suction force of the suction fan is concentrated upon the second channel 42.

As described above, the cleaner in accordance with this embodiment does not require a user to manipulate the channel conversion device 100 separately to use the brush assembly 10 or the subsidiary suction device 30. That is, in case that the user performs cleaning using the brush assembly 10 under the condition that the main body 20 is tilted at a designated angle, the first channel 41 connected to the brush assembly 10 is automatically opened and the second channel 42 connected to the subsidiary suction device 30 is automatically closed. Further, in case that the user erects the main body 20 against the brush assembly 10, the second channel 42 connected to the subsidiary suction device 30 is automatically opened and the first channel 41 connected to the brush assembly 10 is automatically closed.

Thus, a user's trouble of converting the channel according to cleaning modes is saved, and the convenience of use of the cleaner is increased.

Further, the channel conversion device 100 to automatically convert the channel has a relatively simple structure, and the productivity of the cleaner of the present invention is improved.

Although the embodiment illustrates the upright type cleaner, the present invention may be applied any cleaner having two or more suction channels and be variously modified.

For example, although the valve assembly 110 in the embodiment has a single rotary shaft 113, the respective valves may have separate rotary shafts.

Further, the driving unit 120 may include a separate driving motor, and driving motor may be controlled based on a signal generated from a sensor, which senses the pose of the main body 20.

As apparent from the above description, the present invention provides a cleaner, which has an improved channel conversion performance.

Although an embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it would be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in this embodiment without departing from the principles and spirit of the invention, the scope of which is defined in the claims and their equivalents. 

1. A cleaner comprising: a base and a subsidiary suction device respectively provided with suction ports to suck external foreign substances; a suction fan generating suction force to suck the external foreign substances; a first channel connected to the base to transmit the suction force to the base; a second channel connected to the subsidiary suction device to transmit the suction force to the subsidiary suction device; and a channel conversion device including a first valve and a second valve rotated to respectively open and close the first channel and the second channel, wherein the first valve and the second valve are respectively rotated from the upstream portion of a flow to the downstream portion of the flow, and thus close the first channel and the second channel.
 2. The cleaner according to claim 1, further comprising a rotary shaft provided with one side connected to the first valve and the other side connected to the second valve.
 3. The cleaner according to claim 2, wherein the rotary shaft is disposed at the intersection of the first channel and the second channel.
 4. The cleaner according to claim 1, further comprising a first flange part and a second flange part respectively provided on the first channel and the second channel to be closely adhered to the edge of the first valve and the edge of the second valve when the channels are closed by the first valve and the second valve.
 5. The cleaner according to claim 4, further comprising a sealing member to airtightly close the first channel or the second channel by the first valve or the second valve.
 6. The cleaner according to claim 5, wherein the sealing member is provided on the first valve or the second valve, and includes a convex part.
 7. The cleaner according to claim 1, further comprising a main body rotatably connected to the base, wherein the first channel is opened and the second channel is closed when the main body is located within a first rotating range, and the first channel is closed and the second channel is opened when the main body is located within a second rotating range.
 8. The cleaner according to claim 7, wherein the channel conversion device further includes an actuator moving rectilinearly through the rotation of the main body, and a rotary shaft connected to the first valve and the second valve, and the rotary shaft is rotated in linkage with the actuator.
 9. The cleaner according to claim 8, wherein the actuator is elastically supported by the main body, and is pressed by the base according to the rotating angle of the main body.
 10. A cleaner, which has a brush assembly and a subsidiary suction device, comprising: a first channel connected to the brush assembly; a second channel connected to the subsidiary suction device; and a channel conversion device including a first valve to open and close the first channel and a second valve to open and close the second channel, wherein the first valve or the second valve moves in the flowing direction of sucked air, and thus closes the first channel or the second channel.
 11. The cleaner according to claim 10, wherein the first valve and the second valve are provided with a single rotary shaft, and the rotary shaft is rotated in linkage with the rotation of the main body.
 12. The cleaner according to claim 11, further comprising an actuator provided on the main body, and pressed by the base and moving rectilinearly when the main body is rotated at a designated angle, wherein the rotating shaft is rotated by the rectilinear movement of the actuator.
 13. A cleaner having a first suction channel and a second suction channel, which are selectively opened and closed, and suck external foreign substances, comprising a first valve and a second valve respectively rotated from the upstream portion of a flow to the downstream portion of the flow to close the first channel and the second channel.
 14. The cleaner according to claim 13, wherein the first valve and the second valve are formed integrally.
 15. The cleaner according to claim 13, wherein the second channel is closed by the second valve when the first channel is opened by the first valve, and the second channel is opened by the second valve when the first channel is closed by the first valve.
 16. An upright vacuum cleaner having a main body and a bottom suction device, the cleaner comprising: a supplemental suction device; a first channel connected to the bottom suction device to suck foreign substances; a second channel connected to the supplemental suction device to suck foreign substances; a suction fan generating suction force to suck the foreign substances; a channel conversion device having a first valve and a second valve to control flow of air to the first channel and the second channel respectively; wherein the channel conversion device controls the flow of air in accordance with the position of the main body with respect to the bottom suction device.
 17. The cleaner according to claim 16, wherein the channel conversion device selectively routes either of the first channel air flow or the second channel airflow to the main body.
 18. The cleaner according to claim 17, wherein the channel conversion device has a first valve and a second valve respectively for the first channel and the second channel.
 19. The cleaner according to claim 16, wherein the first channel air flow is routed to the main body when the cleaner is in the upright position and the second channel air flow is routed to the main body when the cleaner is in the tilted position.
 20. The cleaner according to claim 16, wherein the channel conversion device it rotated between two different positions to respectively route first channel airflow and the second channel airflow.
 21. The cleaner according to claim 16, further comprising an actuator for causing rotation of the channel conversion device.
 22. The cleaner according to claim 21, wherein a link is provided between the actuator and the channel conversion device.
 23. The cleaner according to claim 21, wherein the actuator is urged by an elastic device is a first direction.
 24. The cleaner according to claim 23, wherein the actuator is urged toward a second direction opposite the first direction, by a body of the bottom suction device, when the cleaner is positioned in an upright position.
 25. The cleaner according to claim 24, wherein the supplemental suction device is activated when the cleaner is positioned in the upright position.
 26. The cleaner according to claim 23, wherein the bottom suction device is activated when the cleaner is positioned in a tilted position having a predetermined range of angel between the main body and the bottom suction device.
 27. The cleaner according to claim 26, wherein the bottom suction device has a rotatable brush. 